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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Thomas P. Wickes, Yale Letters

55 letters written to a man by the name of Thomas P. Wickes. They are personal and business letters received by Wickes who just graduated from Yale. Most of them are of a personal nature though. They start in June and go through October of 1874. Thomas spends his summer sketching and trying to sell the sketches to illustrated newspapers and tries in the fall to get employment as a bass singer in a church choir. His friends are off at employment in San Francisco or Chicago, or at graduate school in New Haven, or on Grand tours in Europe. There are wonderful letter heads and many of the letters are several pages long.

One letter that is not to him is actually from him. It is a 2 ½ page handwritten manuscript by Wickes himself. They are his own notes on Block Island’s geography and his appeal to the tourists which is to accompany sketches he is doing.

A most interesting thing about these letters is the fact that most of the writers were former graduates of Yale and also members of the Skull and Bones Organization. In fact many of the men sign their letters with the words “Bones” or “Fellow Bonesman” or even the number “322” which is very significant when it comes to the organization. There are several letters addressing the issue of a particular “Book” that was taken out of the Skull and Bones” Temple” and given to Wicke’s himself. The book, by the sounds of one of the letters, wasn’t supposed to be removed and very few members knew it was.

1) A note and a pharmacist’s envelope enclosing that says “I am in despair” It also has a hand drawn postage stamp.

2) “Newport June 22, My Dear Wickes, Yours of the 20th inst just recd. I am sorry of course to hear that any of your club have suffered from the panic or in any other way but surely no one of the pats? has any right to feel that you are not doing all your duty for three very good reasons. First the gift to the fund should be in every respect voluntary and not obligatory in any sense. Second, you have already spent so much on our dear old Temple………Yours always in Bones, I. Fred. Kernochan.” More to that letter.

3) One page letter on a “Nashua Lock Co.” letterhead. From H. G. Bixly. He wishes to meet him in New York and more.

4) Calling card of Mrs. Charles A. Fisher

5) E. H. W. author of this letter. New York June 24th, Message to their mother, Mr. Westen came to visit, and more.

6) E. H. W. from New York telegraphing June 26 that Mary left a cashmere sacque at hotel.

7) 4 pages letter; “Orleans June 28th, 1874. No. 2 ______Ave. My Dear Tom, This doubtless has been a very busy as well as a very agreeable month for you and ere these lines reach their destination, what remains of Yale 74’ will in all human probability have made it obeisance and in possession of the much desired “sheepskin” have made way for less worthy successors. Not however without some regrets, I presume, because that air of superiority. The three year acquisition, so inseparable upon the senior year cannot be so readily relinquished. If I ever regretted that my participation in your pleasures and troubles had not been of more active character, it is certainly now as the curtain falls upon the last act…….” He goes on to talk about his time spend abroad in Paris and says “Their religion over here would beat Goodyear’s patents out of sight as far as elasticity goes. But you could scarcely expect less where these damned Catholic priests have so strong a hold upon the nobility and the masses.” He signs his letter “The boy”.

8) Letter from Henry H. Babcock from New Haven June 29th. Wonders what he should do with the album ordered for Wickes.

9) Three calling cards. One from Miss Julia Henderson, One from Isaac Henderson and the last from Mr. and Mrs. Watson Robertson Sperry. On an additional note, Mr. Sperry was the U. S. Minister to Persia.

10) This is a 7 page letter from Frank Spencer Witherbee. I have some great information about Mr. Witherbee at the end of this description. He’s on a grand tour, exhausted by sight seeing….. “Morley’s Hotel, London. Saturday July 4th, 1874. My Dear Tom…….This time of the year the sun rises at 3:30 a.m. and sets at 8:30 p.m. Then a prolonged twilight prevails until 10 p.m. I have once or twice read a newspaper without candles at 9:30 p.m. I say without a candle for we have not struck a hotel yet where we have had gas in our rooms……I met old “Becky” in a book store last night. He was pouring over some rusty old books. At first he did not see me but knew me when I spoke to him. He is not in the least changed in looks, dress or manners. He is on his way from Germany to New Haven. I mistrust he is to have some position in the faculty…….Your aff. Friend in 322. Frank S. Witherbee.” More to this letter as he talks about a cricket match he attended with the “Elite” of London. Says the young ladies were dressed so beautiful but had very homely faces.

11) George Richmond Bookseller’s letterhead and letter.

12) Holden House Saratoga Springs Letter head. Letter from Sam Bushnell and in part reads….. “July 10th, 1874, My Dear Tom, for your sake I will play the part of the “sage” as you suggest. Don’t come to this “hole” of a Holden House. I meant nothing. This house is $2 per day. Two in a bed, six in a room, one towel for six, dish water for tea, chicken seed for coffee, no eggs, cold supper, “heavy pies” and thick headed female attendants. Go to the “Congress”, Yale’s headquarters. $3.00 per “dieue” where everything will be agreeable except, well, try it yourself. We can’t leave this……..Hence in “322” adieu to your friend, Sam C. Bushnell” Much more to this.

13) Telegram about the Columbia and Harvard game.

14) A photographer by the name of DeSilva is sending pictures to him by express. Wants to be paid right away because his wife is due with their baby

15) 2 ½ page letter from J.P R.W.? from San Francisco. “August 3rd, 1874, My Dear Tom, The photos are just received. They are splendid. You can’t realize the pleasure I am deriving from looking at them. Yours is “immense”. Do send me another that I may frame it. I want one for the Yale Album. Old “Rebald” looks as pious as an old wh—e at christening, as was his want in days and nights gone by. The hawk has his old look of swoop and the little fraud has “fixed” himself and tries to look 6 ft. What shall I say of Polonius……..Give my love to Polonius and all the Bloods. R. Walden” This letter has much more, especially concerning the photo and the nick names of the men in the photo. Great “Bones” letter.

16) From Sam Bushnell. Where should DeSilva send Grover’s pictures?

17) From DeSilva asking for his money again.

18) Mollie, I think his sister. Writing to thank him for the family wedding photo.

19) Uncle Robert Haskell in Lansingburgh. Writing with news about his mother. Tells him to have a good time at Block Island. Great “Floor Oil Cloths” letter head.

20) From an E.W.? A classmate of his called. Asking if he’s back in Block Island.

21) Letter from George Edmund Munroe.

22) Letter from Rockwell King in Chicago. Sorry to have missed him in N.Y.

23) Another from Sam Bushnell, tales of antics at Englewood with other classmates.

24) Short letter and the person, just signs it “E.W.”

25) Letter from Henry Farnam, Bar Harbor. August 19, 74’ Was on a cruise to Grand Manan Island with some Columbia men and got stuck in fog. Had a blow out with other Yale men and says….. “All the Yale men who are here at present are members of G.B. which is very pleasant. Last Sat. evening we had a blowout at Southworth’s room where raw oysters and Bass ale were consumed amid the familiar strains of the first anthem and of numerous secular songs. Those present on the occasion were P’s, Johnny Andrews, Howard Mansfield, J.S. Wood, T. Williams Grover, H. W. Farnam and K. Ed. Southworth….we are all sorry you are not here this summer…….Every yours in 322. Henry W. Farnam. B.S.C.”

26) Thomas Wickes notes on Block Island.

27) Daily Graphic New York Letterhead. Short note from J.D. Ball.

28) Eight page letter from his mother with family details.

29) Letter from Thomas Williams Glover, August 24th… “Dear Wickes, I returned from Mt. Desert last Thursday and write you a few lines……I had a most delightful time at Mt. Desert. Staid 5 weeks instead of 2 or 3. As I first intended. I only wish that you could have been there…..We had quite a bones crowd there. Andrews 70’, Mansfield, John Wood, Farnam, Southworth and myself and as we were there I suppose the impression was created that every Yale man, man’s a deities head. A wild and fantastic humor was spread abut the place at one time that the melancholy one, the great Polonius contemplated putting in an appearance…..Yours in 322, T. Williams Grover.”

30) Sam Bushnell. He is going to study Hebrew at Andover. Fuss between Harvard and Yale.

31) Letter from his father on a “Hudson River Oil Works” letter head.

32) Telegraph from Mary W. Rodman. “Come tomorrow without fail”

33) Another telegraph from Mollie “Come in the morning if possible”

34) Letter from Mary giving some general family news.

35) Letter from his brother, I believe, signs it E.W.

36) Another letter from Mollie. Details about home and more.

37) Letter from Sam Bushnell…… “September 6th, My Dear Tom, I cannot tell you how I have felt all this week about the book I sent you. I have not ceased to regret it. Have you received it? I sent it to your father’s address on Monday last and have not heard from you a single word. The pats (?) have been into to T---- everyday since the book was taken out. Our club book has been several times heavier and I have waited for the discovery of its absence with increasing uneasiness……..” There is so much more to this letter about the “book”. He says he also saw General Stapler and talked about the changes in Yale. He signs it “324 ½ Ever yours in S.B.I. Same C. Bushnell.”

38) Another great letter from Bushnell. Says they are having a meeting but without the book. He says that a man named “Gulliver” (I think that is the name) is writing his report and is asking where the book is. Signs it “Very Truly Yours nevertheless in 323.”

39) DeSilva begging for his money

40) ***** Another great letter from Sam….. “79 New Divinity, Sept 13, 1874. My Dear Tom, Sitting at my left and looking over my ______ enlarging is our mutual friend William Beebe. The soft light of theological gas throws over us its kindly radiance; everything in these gratuitous apartments breaths a pleasant influence, etc. Now I will cork up. I spent a most delightful afternoon today with Cushing at his room in Elm St. We had the kind of bones talk which makes ones cheeks glow and ones stomach yearn for 324……The “general” is one of the salt of the earth and his visits will be oasis in my life as a bones man this year. But Tom I thought I used to value Bones. My appreciation of it then was insignificant compared with the value I see on it now…..Arthur Allen was here Thursday. He expressed great regret that Wickes had locked up that book he had heard so much about. Tillinghast was very much worried about it until I had slung a series of lies at him. All the club of D’73 know your story and I want you to come on and unearth the book yourself as this will be the only possible way to avoid detection…….” He goes on to tell him to sneak in the Temple and put the book back. Tells Wickes he is happy about the work he did on the book but regrets to have to lie about where it is. Signs it “I am ever yours in Bones, Same C. Bushnell.”

41) Letter from Grover who is staying at the 5th Ave. Hotel in N.Y.

42) A letter about a report that should be taken to Sam.

43) Same as above and I think these were written by Grover.

44) This letter is from George Munroe, I think as the signature is tough to read. At the end of his letter he writes…. “The book is safe and the boys are ______from my back. I was discovered by Gulliver reading it in the S.E.C.’s room with the gas light, having just discovered it on the top of the book shelf. Where I ascertained they have not looked, much admiration is expressed &c&c….Yours in 324 ½”

This great bunch of letters is for sale on Ebay Item number: 180215136468. Just follow the links on this page if you want to take a closer look.